The Saving Nature of Art - by Susan Giles

Voice.club
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https://Voice.club - Gazing at the wild waves crashing on the island’s rocky shore, Una has never felt more alone and yet more content.

Five months ago, punishment placed her on an uninhabited island.

Her crime? Compassion.

“You are accused of consistently sharing your food allotment with neighbors ill and unable to work. According to the Work Equals Benefits laws, each member of society must work to contribute to the overall good. Your so called “generosity” threatens Law and Peace. The Cultural Equality Committee mandates your arrest.”

Una is quickly arrested, tried, then sentenced to six months solitary confinement on the neighboring island of Eicio. Isaac stands quietly at crowd’s edge, tears in his eyes, equal parts love and pride in his heart.

“The accused is allowed to carry two items.”

Her choices? Shakespeare’s Complete Works and a pocketknife. The crowd jeers at her choices.

Finding the first is difficult. One is finally located in a deserted museum’s cluttered basement. The second causes consternation among the Deciding Committee, but Law says two items; two are given.

Una is unceremoniously dumped on the island of Eicio.

With wild winds whipping around her head and storms threatening, Una builds a birch shelter, christening it Domus Calicani. Searching through reeds growing along the shore, Una finds one with the perfect diameter, cuts a 12" length and makes a simple flute.

By evening, all needs are met: a source of music and finest literature. Laughing to herself, she realizes she also needs nourishment! The island shares its berries, nuts, and mushrooms.

Content she has made the best of her situation, Una lays under the bower and sleeps.

Now after five months, Una is content. During the day she shares soliloquies and poetry with the wind, at dusk the birds teach her songs to echo on her flute.

Una tends her bower and courtyard, knowing that when the men come to “rescue” her and take her back, she will refuse.

And if Isaac has managed, as planned, to be on her rescue craft, instead of her exiting the island, he will join her, and they will start their new beginning.

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Ironically, Una did not feel punished!

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Lovely read, @SusanGiles ! I was enjoyed reading about compassion as a crime. Nice one.

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One part dystopian, another Robinson Crusoe, mix n shake and we get this wonderful combination, which, incidentally, I loved!

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@SusanGiles
What a great story! I especially loved the two items she chose - Shakespeare’s Complete Works and the pocketknife. How ingenious. Music and great literature would be enough to carry many of us through hard times. She’s now in paradise, awaiting the arrival of Isaac! Such a satisfying ending.

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I think Una is better off in her new environment, but she will need Isaac to join her in her solitude. I like the latin verb used for the name of the island where she is exiled. Perhaps Una should rename it accipere as her new home

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One man’s punishment is another man’s (woman’s in this case) joy. This just reenforces the diversity in humankind. Thanks for reading and commenting on my story.

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Thank you, Lotchie. Compassion should never be a crime; it should be used to correct or overcompensate for crimes. Compassion should be a way of life.

Thank you for reading and commenting on my story.

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Thank you, GreeneWills for your kind comments. I am glad you loved the combination.

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Shakespeare should always give us a satisfying ending! Music should always give us the ability to attain a positive ending even in negative situations.

Thank you for reading and commenting on my story.

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Julian, I spent a lot of time finding the most appropriate name for Una’s island utilizing Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Thank you for recognizing and acknowledging my search! I appreciate your reading and commenting on my story.